Insulation materials

Abstract

Foamable elastomeric formulations are described that are suitable for producing polymer foams with insulation and vibration damping properties and the fire retardancy required for internal aircraft panels.

1 : A foamable formulation for use in the production of vibration damping materials having improved fire resistant properties comprising i) an elastomer ii) a plasticiser or processing aid iii) a blowing system iv) a flame retardant system. 
     
     
         2 : A formulation according to  claim 1  containing an adhesion promoter. 
     
     
         3 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the plasticiser and the adhesion promoter are the same material. 
     
     
         4 : A foamable formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is cross linkable and containing a cross linking agent for the elastomer. 
     
     
         5 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is present in an amount of from 5% to 65% weight of the foamable material. 
     
     
         6 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is halogen free. 
     
     
         7 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is a rubber with a high damping loss factor. 
     
     
         8 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is a butyl rubber. 
     
     
         9 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is cross linkable and is an optionally halogenated copolymer of an iso-olefin and an alkyl styrene such as a C 4 -C 7  iso-olefine and a C 1 -C 5  alkyl styrene particularly preferred are brominated copolymers of isobutylene and paramethyl styrene. 
     
     
         10 : A formulation according to  claim 1  containing from 0.1% by weight to 5% by weight of the blowing system based on the weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         11 : A formulation according to  claim 1  containing from 25 to 70% by weight of the fire retardant system based on the weight of the formulation. 
     
     
         12 : A formulation according to  claim 1  containing from 1 to 20 wt % of the plasticiser. 
     
     
         13 : A formulation according to  claim 12 , wherein the plasticiser is liquid polybutene. 
     
     
         14 : A formulation according to  claim 1  containing a supplementary plasticiser. 
     
     
         15 : A formulation according to  claim 14 , wherein the supplementary plasticiser is a fire retardant plasticiser. 
     
     
         16 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the fire retardant comprises a mixture of i) a phosphorous containing fire retardant ii) a metal oxide, hydroxide or hydroxide fire retardant iii) graphite. 
     
     
         17 : A formulation according to  claim 16 , wherein the graphite is heat expandable graphite. 
     
     
         18 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the blowing system is a mixture of a physical and a chemical blowing agent. 
     
     
         19 : A formulation according to  claim 1 , wherein the blowing system, and the cross-linking agent perform their respective functions at a temperature in the range 100° C. to 180° C. 
     
     
         20 : A formulation according to  claim 1  comprising i) from 10% to 60 wt % based on the weight of the formulation of an elastomer, ii) from 0.1 to 5 wt % based on the weight of the formulation of a blowing system iii) from 25% to 75 wt % based on the weight of the formulation of a fire retardant system iv) from 1 to 20 wt % based on the weight of the formulation of a plasticiser or processing aid. v) from 0.1 to 5 wt % based on the weight of the copolymer of a cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         21 : A fire retardant formulation comprising: i) a phosphorus containing fire retardant ii) a metal oxide, hydroxide or hydrate fire retardant iii) graphite. 
     
     
         22 : A fire retardant formulation according to  claim 21  comprising: a) from 20% to 60% by weight of a phosphorus containing fire retardant b) from 5% to 25% by weight of a metal oxide, hydroxide or hydrate fire retardant c) from 5% to 25% by weight of graphite. 
     
     
         23 : A fire retardant composition according to  claim 21 , wherein the phosphorus containing fire retardants are selected from red phosphorus, ammonium phosphates such as polyphosphates, melamine phosphates or pyrophosphate. 
     
     
         24 : A fire retardant according to  claim 21 , wherein the metal oxide or hydroxide is aluminium tri-hydrate or magnesium hydroxide. 
     
     
         25 : A fire retardant according to  claim 21 , wherein the graphite used is heat expandable graphite (HEG).